Bergh



No. 607,302. Patented July 12, I898. H. VAN HOEVENBERGH.

. ELECTRIC LOCOMOTION.

(Application filed Nov. 20, 1896.) (N0 Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

WITNESS-ES: INVENTOR:

No. 607,302. Patented July 12, I898.

H. VAN HDEVENBEBGH.

ELECTRIC -LOGUWHITIUN. (Application filed Nov.- 20, 1896.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

A 440 KW,

Patented July 12, I898. H. VAN HOEVENBERGH. V

ELECTRIC LOCOMOTION (Apphcation-filed -Nov. 20, 1896.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No ModeI.)

INVENTOR:

By his Azzomey 054; A410, KW

, Patented .luly l2, I898. H. VAN HOEVENBERGH.

ELECTRIC LOCOMOTION.

(Apphcatlon filed Nov 20 1896) (No Model.) 4 Sheets$heet 4.

INVENTOR:

UNITED STATES rricn.

PATENT- IIENRY VAN HOEVENBERGH, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO NOAH 0. ROGERS, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC LOCOMOTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,302, dated July 12, 1898.

Application filed November 20,1896. $erial No. 6121803. (NomodeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY VAN IIOEVEN- BERGH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Locomotion, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the propulsion of electrically-operated vehicles, the object being to permit vehicles provided with propelling electric motors to traverse an ordinary roadway not provided with tracks or rails or other paraphernalia on the surface such as is commonly employed in electric locomotion.

In carrying out the invention I provide two elevated or aerial supply-conductors extending along the roadway to furnish a path for the outgoing and return current from a stationary generator or dynamo-electric machine located at any suitable point of supply and provide each vehicle with a trolley or currentcollector of novel construction which makes a continuous contact with the supply-conduc tors and leads the current to and from the electric motor carried by each vehicle. Thus the current is led to and from the motor by an independent insulated conductor connecting with the generator and all earth contacts or paths for the current are dispensed with. Each trolley is provided with rolling collectors in firm mechanical engagement with one supply-conductor and a light yielding insulated collector held in elastic engagement with the other supply-conductor, and trolleys moving in definite directions are held in mechanical engagement with opposite supplyconductors. Guide-rails are provided on the trolley-frames to properly fold back the elastic contact of a trolley passing in the opposite direction and thus permit it to pass.

The invention comprises a trolley engag ing two guiding-conductors adapted to withdraw one of its contacts in passing a trolley moving in the opposite direction.

It comprises also a trolleymechanically guided by one conductor and having a separable elastic connection with the other conductor capable of being withdrawn to permit another trolley to pass.

It comprises also specific features of the trolley, which will hereinafter be fully described and definitely indicated.

It comprises also a system of electric locomotion in which motor propelled vehicles running in opposite directions are supplied from the same conductors, the collectors being arranged to withdraw one contact from one conductor in passing.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a side elevation of my trolley. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing two trolleys in the act of passing one another. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a system of electric locomotion embodying my improvements, and Fig. 5 is a detail view showing one mode of supporting the supply-conductors.

In a system of locomotion of this kind it is evident that the earth cannot be used for any part of the circuit, the contact of the wheels of the vehicle with the ground being so slight that very little current would flow even if the ground were wet. It is important also that switches at determinate points of the road to permit trolleys to pass be dispensed with, since such devices not only greatly increase the expense of equipment, but introduce factors which interfere with reliable operation of the system and enforce delays in the movements of vehicles, which are highly desirable to avoid. I avoid these uncertain and objectionable features by providing two continuous insulated conductors each being appropriated by vehicles having one direction of transit over the roadway, the other conductor being engaged by a yielding contact which automatically folds out of the way in passing another vehicle.

A simple form of construction for a trolley embodying my improvements is shown in the drawings, though it will of course be understood that this construction may be varied so long as the generic features of novelty hereinafter pointed out in the claims are embodied.

1 in Fig. 4 represents a road-vehicleof any desired construction provided with an electric motor (symbolically represented at 2) and with two current-leading conductorsB 4:,(see Fig. 1,) connecting with metallic terminals 5 6, secured to the trolley. The trolley-frame is composed of two stiff plates. (Seen in side elevation in Fig. 4, end elevation in Fig. 1, and plan at 7 8.) These are hinged together at 0 10. An ear 11 projects from a middle point of the plate 8 toward the plate 7, the latter being provided with a lug 12 to serve as an abutment for a screw-pin 13, having a squared end for the use of a key on a staff, permitting a motorman to tighten or loosen the trolley for connection or disconnection. The plates 7 8 when adjusted form the two limbs of a V and have secured at their upper,

ends stud-bolts forming journals for the trolley-wheels 14c 15 14 15, having grooved pcripheries meeting at the contiguous points to embrace the line conductor 16. Thus it will be seen that when the key-pin 13 is adjusted the trolley-wheels may be forced to a firm seat 011 the conductor. Two pairs of wheels are provided for each trolley, thus giving two points of support.

Secured to the plate 8 is a block of insulating material or an insulated plate of metal, as may be desired, (shown at 17,) in which is journaled an arm 18, carrying a long vertical axis 19, on which is journaled a light collecting-roller 20. The latter makes electric contact with the companion supply-cond uctor 16. It is desirable to have this arm and contactroller as light as possible to prevent lateral pressure on the conductor 16, and to this end the arm may be made of sheet-steel and the roller of aluminium. A coil-sprin g 21 is preferably mounted around the axis of the arm 18, one end being fixed to the insulated block 17 and the other to the arm. Thus the arm is held against the conductor 16 with a yielding or elastic pressure.

One terminal of the leadingin conductors of the vehicle connects with a metal spur 22 of the trolley-frame and the other with an insulated plate 23, and from the latter a flexible conductor 21 connects with the folding arm 18. Firmly secured to the plate 8. at a point above the level of the arm 18 is a metallic guide-rail 25, mounted ontwo or more metallic posts secured to the trolley-frame. These rails are inclined at the leading end toward the conductor on which the trolley rolls. Thus when two trolleys are passing the collectors 20 are forced asideby the guide-rails,

an uninterrupted completion of the circuit being maintained, as the two trolleys pass one another, with ease. The supply-conductors may be mounted on supporting-posts in any desired way. They should be firmly set against lateral motion on the posts. One form of construction is indicated in Fig. 5, in which 26 26 are metallic rods securely mounted on insulating-chairs seated on a supporting-arm of a line-post 27. At the foot of the rods are metallic webs brazed to the line conductor, so as to form a stiff connection. The arm 18 is free to obey its controlling-spring, and thus hugs the conductor with which it is to make contact notwithstanding any lack of alinement of the latter with relation to its comeo7,so2

panion conductor at points intermediate the supports.

It will be noted that the connection between the motor-vehicle and the trolley is flexible. Thus the trolley trails after the vehicle, being drawn along by the latter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A system of electric locomotion comprisin g two line conductors, electrically-propelled vehicles connecting therewith, and currentcollect-ors for the vehicles traveling upon and supported by one conductor and provided with a folding contact engaging the other conductor, said contact being adapted to be withdrawn to permit another collector to pass.

2. A system of electric locomotion comprisin g two line conductors, electrically-propelled vehicles connecting therewith, and currentcollectors for thevehicles traveling upon and securely connected with one conductor, oppositely-moving collectors being connected to opposite conductors, a folding, insulated, and elasticallyyielding arm on each collector engaging the companion conductor and leading current therefrom, and guide-rails to automatically force aside the yielding contact-arms to permit two trolleys to pass.

3. A system of electric locomotion comprisin g two line conductors, electrically-propelled vehiclesconneeting therewith, and currentcollectors for the vehicles traveling upon and securely connected with one conductor, oppositely-moving collectors being connected with opposite conductors, a folding, insulated, and elastically-yielding arm on. each collector engaging the companion conductor and leading current therefrom, and metallic guiderails in electric connection with the collector frame to force'aside the yieldingcontact-arms to permit the trolleys to pass and preserve electric connection with the line conductors.

1. Acurrent-collector or trolley provided with means for supporting it on one conductor of a supply system and having an elastic ally-yielding arm carryinga contact to engage a companion conductor, and means for guiding the arm of a similar trolley on the companion conductor around the first-mentioned trolley.

5. Acurrent-eolleetor or trolley provided with means for supporting it on one conductor of a supply system and having an elastically-yielding arm carryinga contact to engage a companion conductor, and means for guid ing the arm of a similar trolley on the com panion conductor around the firstunentioned trolley while preserving the circuit practically unbroken.

6. A current-collector or trolley provided with means for supporting it on one conductor of a supply system, an elastically-yielding arm adapted to make contact with a com-- panion conductor, and a guide-rail on the trolley-frame to force aside the arm of atrolley on the companion conductor thereby permitting the trolleys to pass one another, substantially as set forth.

7. A current-collector or trolley mounted to roll on one conductor of a supply system, an elastically-yielding arm adapted to make contact With the companion conductor, and a guide-rail on the trolley-frame to force aside the arm of a trolley on the companion conductor,therebypermitting the trolleys to pass one another.

8. A current-collect0r or trolley provided with means for mechanically securing it to one conductor of a supply system, a yielding arm adapted to make cont-act with the com-.

panion conductor, and a guide-rail on the trolley-frame to force aside a similar yielding arm of a trolley on the companion conductor, thereby permitting the trolleys to pass one another.

9. A current-collector or trolley provided with grooved current-collecting rollers holding it in mechanical engagement with one conductor of an electric supply system, a yielding arm insulated from the rollers making contact with the companion conductor, and a guide-rail on the trolley-frame for deflecting a similar yielding arm on passing an oppositely-moving trolley rolling on the companion conductor.

10. Acurrent-collector or trolley supported by one conductor of an electric supply system, a yielding insulated arm engaging the companion conductor, and a metallic guiderail secured to the trolley and electrically connected with the supporting-conductor and adapted to engage the said yielding arm while two trolleys are passing one another, whereby the circuit through a motor-driven vehicle maybe preserved without material interruption while two oppositely-moving trolleysare passing one another.-

11. A current-collector or trolley provided with grooved current-collecting rollers holding it in mechanical engagement with one conductor of an electric supply system ,means for looking or unlocking the rollers to the conductor, and an insulated cont-act adapted to engage the companion aerial conductor.

12. A current-collector or trolley provided with collecting-contacts mechanically locked in engagement with one conductor of an electric supply system, an insulated contact adapted to engage the companion aerial conductor, and a key accessible for operation from beneath for unlocking the trolley-contacts from the conductor to which they secure the trolley.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 11th day of November, A. D. 1896.

HENRY VAN HOEVENBERGH. lVitnesses;

RoBT. H. READ,

ALIOK G. MACANDREW. 

